Device for discharging molten material



Oct. 19, 1926. 1,603,994

M. A. STEELMAN DEVICE, FOR DISCHARGING MOLTEN MATERIAL Original Filed Jun@ G, 1915 5 sheets-Sheei l M1 @f MW Oct. 19, 1926. 1,603,994

M. A. STEELMAN DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING MOLTEN MATERIAL Original Filed June e, 191e 5 sheets-Sheet 2 M. A. STE'ELMAN DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING MOLTEN MATERIAL Original Filed June 6, 1916 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ming? Oct.

Original Filed June 6, 191sl 5 sheets-sheer 4 @et 19, 192e. 1,603,994

M. STEELMAN DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING MOLTEN MATERIAL original Filed June e, 1916 5 sheets-sheet 5 Patented Oct. 19, 1926. v

UNITED sTA TES lPATENT. o'FFlcE. f

- nEEroN A. STEELMAN, 'or VINELAND, NEW JERSEY; ANNA MARTHA STEELMAN, An-

1g MINISTRATRIX or SAID MERToN A. STEELMAN, DEcEAsEn, AssIGNoR To HART- j FORD-EMPIRE COMPANY; or HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION or DELA- WARE.`

DEVICE FOR DISCHARGING MOLTEN MATERIAL.

AppIicaton led June 6, 1916, Serial No. 101,878. Renewed October 29, 1924.

. 'l invention relates to devices for discharging molten material (say, glass) from a furnace, and has been particularly designed for use in conjunction with machines for making bottles or other receptacles, where it is desired to withdraw from the furnace small measured quantities` of molten glass inA quick succession and transfer such vsmall quantities to molds or other receivers, for the purpose of forming the amount of tmolten glass withdrawn each time into a bottle or other receptacle. The main purpose of my invention is to transfer the molten glass lfrom the furnace in such a way as to 'effectively keep the glass hot and of proper viscosity, and to prevent it from becoming thick and clogging up the passages of the apparatus. Another object of the invention is to :insure a thorough emptying of said passages when it is no longer desired to discharge glass from the 'apparatus and preferably to provide for the separate discharge of the material remaining in the passages of the apparatus at the end of the operation. Another feature ofthe invention consists in special means for cutting olf and properly directing and to someextent shaping the molten material on its way to the receiver. Other features will appear from the description following hereinafter,--and the` novelty will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is an elevation ofmy apparatus, shown in connection with a glass furnace; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and shown on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through my apparatus, taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 4, certain parts which are shown in detail in` other views, being omitted; Figs. 4 and 5 are a horizontal section and a vertical section respectively taken on lines 4-4 and 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6k is a partial vertical section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 7 and in the same plane as Fig. 3, butshowing the-knife carrier controlling the'glass flow in the position of closing the nozzle outlet; Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken at right angles to Fig. 6 in a plane indicated by line 7 7 in Fig. A6, but showing the knife carrier in a position in which it uncovers the nozzle opening; Figs. 8. and 9 are sections taken on lines 8 8 and 9 9 respectively of Fig'. 6, and illustrating certain details; Fig. 9 shows a modication of the device illustrated in Fig. 9; Fig. 10 shows, in conjunction with Figs. 1, 2 and 7 the mechanism for controlling the position of the knife carrier; and thereby the glass flow; Figs. 11 and 12 are sections thro-ugh one of the valves shown in Fig. 10, Fig. 11 being taken on line 11 11 of Fig. 12, and Fig. 12 on line 12-12 of Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is a partial bottom view, looking in the direction of the arrow 13 in Fig. 1; Fig. 14 is a bottom view of the knife carrier and the knife; Fig. 15 is a central section throughsaid carrier and knife, taken on line 15-15 of Figli; and Figs. 16 and'17 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the knife. Y

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 3, l and 5, the glass Vfur--` nace 18, of any approved constr-uction, has in its wall an' opening or outlet consisting of an upper comparatively wide portion 18 and a lower comparatively narrow portion or channel 18" leading into an intermediate chamber 19 built of ireclay or other fire-- proof material and attached to the furnace. This chamber 19 rests on a bottom plate 20 having a flange 20 extending all the way around the lower portion of the chamber 19;

the bottom plate 20 and the chamber 19 are i bottom wall of the chamber 19, so as to preserve a proper relation of the parts when they expand owing to the intense heat. As shown in Fig. 3, this cover 22 has a downward projection fitting into the upper end ofthe chamber 22, to properly position the cover when it is re-applied after having been removed forthe purpose of inspecting or cleaning the chamber 22 and the parts locat,- I

ed at the bottom of said chamber.

Through the top wall of the chamber 19, adjacent to the furnace, extends a gate 23 whose lower 'portion tits loosely into, and is guided in, a widened portion of the channel 18"'. The gate 23 is secured to a rod 23' by means of which it can' be raised or lowered to any desired position and secured in such position in any suitable way (not shown). In its lowermost position (shown in Fig. 3), the gate 23 will close the channel 18" and stop the How of molten glass from the furnace, while vin its raised position (Fig. 5), the gate will allowthe glass to flow-into the channel 21 and chamber 22. The normal y-l'ewel of the glass in the furnace maybe as :indicated at A in 3.

The supply channel 21. and the discharge chamber 22 form together a container for molten material whose admission to this container is, as just desc-ribed, controlled by" ythe gate 23, while its discharge through the lower end of the chamber 22 is controlled by other means, as will be described later. This containeris suitably heated by-means. of a burner 24, or other heating devices, registering with an opening 19' provided in the top. vofthe chamber 19. The heating gases em- 'anating from, or produced by, this burner will circulate around the container 21, 22, so as to keep the glass contained therein or flowing therethrough at the desireddegree of temperature, and will then escape into the lfurnace through the upper -outlet portion- 18'. Another burner, 25, in registry with an opening 19" also provided in the top wall of the chamber 19 serves to heat the lower portion of the gate 23 and surrounding parts, so as to enable the gate toI be raised at the beginning of the operation. After the gate has been -raisedto' the proper position, this burner 25 will be shut olf.

`The chamber 22 communicates at its lower ,end with a discharge nozzle 26 made of lireclay' orvother refractory material (Figs. 3,

4, 6 and 7 While the opening in the nozzle 26 at the yjunction with the chamber 22 is circular, it is d'oblong at the lower portion vwhere the'walls of the opening are vertical,

y vsuch lower portion of the opening being shown about twice as long as wide. Between this lower portion and the upper end, the wall of the opening flares so as to form .a gradual transition from the oblong` to the circular shape.- A comparison of Figs. 6

` and 7, which are taken at right angles to each other, will make this clear. The noz-` zle 26 is supported by an annular ange 27' on av plate -27 which itself is secured to the bottom plate 20 by means of screws 28 extending through recesses 27" in the plate 27 and screwing into the bottom' plate 20. These recesses are wide enough to allow one .plate to be shifted laterally with respect 'to Athe otherl for the purpose'of adjustment as will' be described below. Washers 28' of large diameter interposed between the heads vof the screws 28`and the plate 27 will assist purpose of a small plate 29 having an opening 'of the same size and shape as, and registering with, the lower portion .of the nozzle opening. This plate A29, which in effect becomes parte of the nozzle, is held in placey by two metal strips 30 secured to the plate 27 by screws '30' and`forming guides for a movable knife carrier 31, which normallycloses the outlet from the nozzle by lying close to the plate 29` against said outlet, and therefore also serves as a valve.' The carrier 31, with its `knife or blade 32, is adapted to be reciprocatedalong the guide strips 30 to and from thel nozzle outlet, which, as described above, isof an oblong shape, in the direction of its longer axis, by the following device: At the end farthest away from the nozzle 26, the carrier is rigidly connected with one end of a piston rod 33' having at its other end a piston 33' adapted to be reciprocate-d in a cylinder 34 which is carried bya lateral eX- tension 27* of the plate 27 and is adjustable lengthwise in slots 27a ofv said extension. The piston-is actuated by admitting a `fluid under pressure, such as steam or compressed air, to one or the other of its sides, through pipes 35, 36 communicating with the cylinder chambersV 34', 34" respectively through ports in the cylinder-heads. The admission of the actuating fluid is controlled by a piston .valve (Figs. 2 and 10) consisting of a cylinder 37 and a piston rod 38 having two pistons 38', 38" yrigidly mounted thereon at a distance from each other and dividing the interiorof the cylinder into three chambers 37', 37 and 37 The cylinder wall has three ports, the central port communicating with a ipe 39 through which the compressed fluid) 1s admitted to the cylinder chamber 37'1 while the two side ports conneet the interior of the cylinder with the pipes 35, 36 respectively. As these pipes 35, 36 .serve at times asI exhaust pipes (as will -.be described presently), the heads of the valve cylinder 37 are provided with a num-y ber of holes 3,7, 37b leading tothe outside and allowing the exhaust to escape into the` surrounding air. The side wall of the cylinder 34 has two ports one of which is located Y at a certain distance from one of" the cylinder heads, while the other is located atth'esame distance from the other cylinder head. These ports communicate with pipes 35', 36

respectively connected with thepipes 35, 36

at 36". At a point between 35, 3G and the heads of the cylinder 34, the pipes 35, 36 are provided with by-pass check valves 40, 41 respectively,the detail construction of which is shown in Figs. 11 and 12 and is as follows: Into the valve casing lead passages 40, 40, the former communicating with that portion of the pipe 35 which leads to`-the cylinder 34, while the passage 40 communicates with the portion of pipe 35 leading to the cylinder 37 Passage 440 leads directly into a central chamber 40*, while between passage 40 and this chamber is interposed a check valve 42 adapted to be lifted from lits seat, the valve stem 42 being guided in a socket 43 provided in the screw cap 43. From then passage 40, another passage, 40a, leads to the chamber 40*, this passage vbeing throttled by a needle valve 44 screwing into' the valve casing and provided at its outer end with a milled head 44', a screw cap 45 insuringia tight -ioint. The purpose of these by-pass check valves is to prevent the piston 33 from striking too hard against the cylinder heads. rh-en thecom-l pressed fluid is admitted, say to the cylinder chamber 34" through the pipe 36, the check valve in the valve casing 41 (corresponding to check valve 42 in the valve casingl 40)' having been lifted by the pressure,

`so that the fluid can pass unobstructed I' through the pipe 36, the piston 33 will be Imoved from the position shown in Fig. 7

toward the other end of the cylinder/expellingthe exhaust in chamber 34 through the pipe 35 into the pipe 35 and cylinder chamber 37', from where it will escape to the Y atmosphererthrough ports 37a. As soon as the piston 33phas covered the port leading ,to vthecpipe 35". the luid remaining in the cylinder chamber 34 will be compressed, be-

ing allowed to escape but slowly through the passage 40a in the valve casing 40, and

van air cushion will thus be ormed which will prevent the piston from'striking hard against the cylinder head. When the piston is propelled in the other direction, the'operation takes place in a similar manner.

As shown in` Fig. 1., the piston valve cylinder 37 is rigidly secured to a stationary support 46. The piston rod 38 is connected by means of a screw47 to one end of a rod"48 adapted to slide in a stationary bracket 49 secured to a base plate 50 by a screw 49.

.At its other end the rod 48 is forked lto receive aroller 51 (Fig. 2) mounted to turn in said forked end on a pin 51. A` coiled spring 52, one end of which engages the bracket 49, while th'e other end hears against a shoulder 48 on the rod 48, tends to push the forked end ot the rod carrying the roller 51 away from the bracket 49 and thus the piston rod 38 will normally be in its outermost position, with the piston 38 against vbracket 49.

the front head of the cylinder. Through a socket provided in the rod 48, at a. point between its forked end and the shoulder 48', extends loosely a screw-threaded connecting member 53. Normally, this connecting member is held rigidly to the rod 48 by means of a washer 53 having a spherically-curved engaging surface, in conjunction with the similarly-curved head of the connecting members and nuts 53. The ends vof the socket engaged by the washer 53 andby the head of the connecting member are of course curved so as to tit the said sphericallycurved engaging surfaces. The connecting member 53 also extends loosely through a socketv in a rod .54, but is normally held rigidly to said rod bymeans of washers '53 andnuts 53". The rod 54,' similarly to the rod 48, carries at one end a roller 51, has a shoulder 54 engaged by a spring 52 and is adapted to slide in a bracket55 secured to the base plate 50 by a screw 55. Its other .end is, however, not connected to a. piston rod; but is preferably screw-threaded to receive'nuts 54 which will limit its movement in one direction by engaging the The rollers 51, 51 will beV engaged at times by cams-on the machine in conjunction with which my discharge device is used'. Thus the cam 56 maybe on the rotary member, 57 of a bottle-making machine of the well-known type in which a member carrying molds and various other mechanisms rotates about an upright axis. In Fig. v1, the left-hand margin line of the drawing may be assumed vto indicate this upright axis. It will now be clear from the above description that a sliding movement of the rod 48 toward the cylinder. 37 will cause, by means of the pipe connections and cylinder arrangements, the knife lcarrier or valve 31 to be withdrawn from engagement with the nozzle 26, thus allowing the molten material contained in the nozzle and container 21, 22 to be discharged through the nozzle. On

the other hand, a movement of the rod 48 away from the cylinder 37 will cause the carrier 31 to again close the nozzle outlet.

The purpose of havingv two rollers, 51 and 1 51, mounted at an adjustable distance from each other, is to be able to regulate the time during which the nozzle is lopen and thereby vary the amount of molten material to be discharged every time the carrier is withdrawn from the nozzle, without changing the length of the cams engaging the rollers. Then it is desired to alter the amount of molten material discharged each time, the nuts 53 will be loosened and the rollers adjusted to the proper distance from each other. The nuts 53 are then again tightened, so that the rods 48A` 54 will be rigidly Any action on the roller 51 will of course it can slide\lengthwise with the bracket 55,

after the nut on the upper end of the screw 55 has been loosened. As soon as this nut is again tightened, the screw 55 and bracket 55 will be rigidly connected withthe base plate 50. The rods 48, 54 being almost parallel and .their sliding movement only small,

the slight play praovided inpractice will be y sufficient .to enable them to slide readily in the brackets 49, 55, without any danger of.

binding.

The construction of the knife 32 andits carrier 31 has been shown in detail in Figs. 14 and 15, and the cutting operation has been illustrated diagrammatically in Figs.

16 and 17. 'It' will be seen from these views that the cutting edge ofthe knife 32 is made in such away thatat the beginning of the cutting operation it will conform to the outline of the nozzle at its round end and will thereforev engage at once the molten material over the whole width of the nozzle opening (see Fig. 16). As the quantity of molten material to be Withdrawn each time is rela` tively small, this feature is of greatimportance, particularly when taken in conjunction With the fact that the nozzle open` ingis oblong. AS stated above, the knife carrier moves in the direction of the longer axis of the nozzle opening. The width of the cut will therefore remain practically constant during the'entire forward movement of the cutter. The Dresult will be an elongated body of molten material of practically uniform f thickness throughout its length. This is `very desirable in case my device is Yused in connection with a glass furnace and a bottle-making machine. The molten glass, owing to its viscosity, will not flow out of the nozzle quickly, but will hang down at first, as shown in Fig. 17 by the dotted line a. The knife, as it progresses, will then cause the glass to assume the elongated shape referred to above and also shown in Fig. 17.

The blade 32 is secured to the carrier 31' by means of a clamp 58 and screws 58', tlfe clamp being spaced from the carrier by lin-v ers 58". -The blade is also dovetailed into the forked end of the carrier, as in Fig. 14, and at the forward end of the blade its side faces are not only converged transversely,

' tion in which it is flush ing the blade, vI remove but longitudinally as well. The corresponding longitudinally converging guide portions of the carrier act as a stop to arrest the blade when it is being adjusted, in the posiwith the upper surface of the carrier (Fig. 15). In regrinda portion of its top surface to uniform depth and then reinsert the blade after having removed one or more liners.. The carrier is prefeiablgT provided with passages throu h admittedo at 31 and escaping at 31 will circulate to prevent the carrier and blade from being heated too strongly by the glass. In view of the reciprocating motion of the carrier, the inlet 31 and outlet 31 should of course be connectedto flexible pipes.

To insure proper engagement of the bladel 32 `with the plate 29 (forming part of the nozzle), I provide at each side of the blade levers 31* pivoted on brackets 27h-'secured to the plate 27 (Figs. 6, 7, and 9). These levers. carry in suitable sockets, rollers 314 and arey pressed upwardly by springs 27" sliding on rods 27dI carried by the plate 27. The rollers 31a will thus always press the carrier 31 with the blade 32 firmly'A against.

the nozzle opening, while at the same time allowing said carrier and blade to move freely along the "guides 30. In Fig. 9 I

`have shown a modification of the device, in

which the rollers 31 are pressed against the carrier 31 by counterweights 31b secured to extensions on theY other sides of the pivots of the levers 31*. As shown in Fig. 7, ,a

which a cooling fluid` Small plate 59 is secured to the plate 27 bev tween the guides 30, at a point near the end of the travel of the vcutting edge. On its side facing this cutting edge, the plate 59 has a convex edge corresponding to the outline of the cutting edge (Fcig. 14) this convex edge of the plate 59 is also beveled for the purpose of directing downward any molten material which may be forced against that side by the knife or blade.

To the underside of the plate 27 are se.- cured, by means of screws 60', guides 60 extending in a direction transverse to that of the cutter guides 30. Along these guides 60 are adapted to travel rollers61 connected by means of pins 61 and brackets 62 with a transfer funnel or blank former 62 having a through-passage 62" adapted to register with the nozzle opening. At its lower, discharge end, this passage is preferably cy zle opening, so as not to interfere with the operation of the knife and its carrier. On that side, however, which lies farthest away from the knife, that is, thev side toward which the knife moves in cutting the glass, the transfer funnel has an extension 62* reaching to within close proximity of the plate 27 Thisl extension flares upwardly -and outwardly and its inner face thus forms l, a continuation of the upper flaring portion of the funnel. The knife, at the,A end of its cuttmg stroke, forces the depending glass body, or 'the upper portion of such body, to-

ward the extension 62* along which this glass body will slide down-into thelpassage 62 and from the delivery end of this passage yto the mold or other receptaale arranged underneath the funnel and in'registry therewith. The axis of the transfer vfunnel or blank former will of course be in line with'the axis of the mold or other receptaclewhich isto receive the glass, but preferably slightly out of line and forward of the axis of the nozzleopening, so as to properly receive anddirect the lump of glass. In Fig. 1,'I'have shown as @example a mold 63 in position underneath the transfer funnel. 4Such mold may be connected with' thc rotarymember 57 of, the bottle-makingma chine in any Well-known or approved man- O ably made integral with an outer straight wall 62, forming with theinterior wall of 2 the funnel a jacket through which a cooling jmedlum, such as water, can be circulated.

This cooling medium iscadmitted at 62b and `will effectively cool the funnel which is liable to become very hot owing to the passage -therethrough of the'molten glass.

As described above, the knife cuts off, and

4shapes to a certain extent, an elongated body of glass of practically uniform width and thickness. By coming in contact with the flaring portion of the funnel and from there sliding down through the comparatively narrow cylindrical portion, this glass is notonly directed properly into the moldor other receptacle 1nto which it is to be transferred, but it is also formed or shaped in said funnel into a perfectly cylindrical body andthus delivered to the mold or other receptacle in the' most desirable shape and manner. The cooling medium circulating around the funnel or blank former also serves to cool to a certain extent the body of glass passing therethrough, it being understood that the glass has been kept very h'ot up to the Vmoment it issues from the nozzle. This cooling laction on the glass is effected quite uniformly'owing to the fact that the elongated body of glass on its way down through the narrow straight portion of thefunnel, completely ills this portion Aof the funnel i the rollers 61.

and therefore is in contact therewith all around. v

The transfer funnel, as described above, is suspended from the' guides 60 by means of This is for the purpose 'of moving it out of its position in registry with the nozzle opening, when desired, and of bringing into position under the nozzle al discharge member 64 shown in Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8. This discharge member, i-n the exam le shown, has a downwardly and rearwar ly inclined open channel, and is conveniently 'made integral with the transfer funnel 62,

the bottom wall of the dischargemember or channel forms part of the outer wall of the cooling jacket; the channel is also conveniently used as an overflow for thei cooling medium circulating through said jacket, y,

which overflow takes place through a series of holes 64 provided in the channel in a projection near its upper portion (Figs. 6 and 8). Preferably, the following means are used to -move the transfer funnel 62 out of position and the discharge channel 64 into position in registry with the nozzle opening: To the discharge channel 64 is secured f rigidly,` by means of screws or otherwise, a U-shaped bracket 65 connected rigidly with one end of arod 66 provided at its other end portion with'a screw-thread 66' in engagement with an internal screw thread on a bevel gear 67 supported from the bottom plate 20. In mesh with this gear 67 is another bevel gear, 68,lmounted on a shaft 69 also supported from ,the bottom plate and having atits other end a band wheel 70 (Figs. 1 and13). Byturning the hand wheel 70, the gear 68 will causethe gear 67 to revolve, and this, by meansof the internal screw thread will cause the rod 66 to move lengthwise of its axis, imparting this movement to the discharge member 64 and transfer fu'nnel 62 which, by means ofthe rollers 61 traveling in the guides 60, will be brouglit from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, to the position shown in dotted lines 1n said figure,`in which latter position the discharge channel 64 will register with the nozzle -openin Small plates 60 secured to the ends o the guides 60. will vstop the rollers in their eXtreme positions.-

'The purpose of making the transfer funnel or blank forme-r movable and of providinga discharge member to take at times the place of the funnel, 'is as follows: At the end of the operation, vthat is, whenit is no longer desired to withdraw molten glass from the furnace and to transfer it into v molds or other receptacles, the gate 23 having been closed, the container 21, 22 will still contain a certain amount of molten glass. If this glass were allowed to stand in the container for any length of time, it would cool and become hard, especially in the lower part of the container next to the nozzle, even l if Athe container were kept'heated continuously by means of the burner 24. The nozzle opening would become clogged and it might even become impossible to withdraw the knife-.carrier from the opening when it is desired to again begin the operation of the machine. For this reason the discharge member 64 will be moved into position under the nozzle opening, the latter will be opened, and the glass contained in lthe chamber 22 and channel 21 will flow out readily owing to the inclined bottom of the latter, and will drop into the discharge member, where it will cool by coming in contact with the water flowing down in the discharge channel from the overflow of the jacket. An inclined connected by turnbuckles 74.

channel 71 (Fig. l) forming a continuation o'f the discharge member 64, will receive the glass and water from the latter and deliver it into a tank (not shown) where the glass will be fully cooled and from where it can be removed and used over again.

Asshown in `the drawings, the chamber 19 with the parts carried thereby or connected therewith, is preferably supported or suspended from the furnace in the following manner: On top of the furnace rests an I-beam 72 held in place by upright I-beams 73 customary in constructions of this characsecured to the I-beams 7 3. Thebars 7 5 are riveted` or otherwise secured rigidly to the flange 20 on the bottom plate 20 and to straps 77, 78 extending around the chamber 19, at its upper and'middle portions respectively. Another upright bar, 79, is provlded vat the front end of the chamber 19, and

also connected to the plate 20 and the straps 77, 78. Angle irons 80 connect `the straps 77, 78 and the plate 20 at their respective ends adjacent the furnace. It will be seen that this mode of suspending the chamber 19 will enable me to adjust it properly with respect to the mold or other receptacle lto which the glass is to be transferred. It may not always be possible to construct the chamber 19 with sufficient accuracy, especially in view of the factthat the expansion of the chamber owing to the intense heat to which it will be subjected,

has to be taken into account. By means of the bracing rods 74 and turnbuckles 74 the chamber 19 can be leveled properly, while by means of the bracing rods 76 and turnbuckles 76 it can be swung slightly to one side or the other, until the nozzle outletis in its proper position. A further adjustment of the nozzle toward or from the furnace 18, if desired, is possible by shifting the plate 27 carrying said nozzle, with respect to the bottom plate 20, after having loosened the `screws 28 holding the lates 27 and 20 together. After the nozz e has been brought to its` proper position, the;

screws 28 are again tightened. v

As shown in Fig. 3, the chamber 19 is provided with a socket 19* extending into the. inclined channel 21, for the insertion of a pyrometer (not shown), by means of'which the temperature of the glass fiowing through the supply channel 2l can be ascertained.

vWhile my apparatus has been shown and described inconnection with a machine for makingbottles or similarY articles, it may be used wherever 'it is desired to discharge fromfa furnace molten material into molds or other receptacles for further treatment.

No claim is made herein to the .adjustably timed actuation of the feeder 'in synchronisrn with the movement of the mold table 57, or to the specific structure for producing such timed actuation. These features are claimed in the copending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 76,534, iiled December 19, 1925 as a division of the present' application.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the natureof my invention as defined by the appended claims. I claim:

1. In a device for discharging molten material, a nozzle adapted to receive molten material, means movable adjacent to said nozzle, for controllin the discharge of material therefrom, a funnel movable independently of said means and transversely of its path of motion, irto and out of registryI with said nozzle and adapted to receive molten material from said nozzle, and a discharge member movable in unison with the funnel-and adapted to register with the nozzle when the funnel is moved out of registry with the nozzle.

2. In a device for discharging moltenmaterial, a furnace provided with an opening for the exit of said molten material, a casing located exteriorly of the furnace adjacent to said opening and provided with a downwardly inclined channel the upper end of which communicates directly with said opening at the level thereof, a nozzle connected with the lower end of said channel, means for cutting off the supply of molten material at the upper end of said channel directly adjacent to said exit opening of the furnace, and a cutter movable adjacent to' the outlet of the nozzle. I

V3. In a device for discharging molten material, anozzle' adapted to receive molten material means movable horizontally adjacent to said nozzle, for controlling the discharge of material therefrom, a funnel movable independently of said means', in a horizontal patlrtransverse to that of said means, into and out of registry With said nozzle and adapted to receive molten material from said nozzle, and a discharge member movable in unison with said funnel and adapted to register With the nozzle When the tunnel is moved out of registry with the nozzle.

4. In a device for discharging molten material, a nozzle, means for conveying the molten material thereto, a cutter mounted to slide directly under the outlet of the nozzle, and a transfer funnel arranged to receive the material severed by said cutter and provided with an upward extension on the side toward lwhich the cutter slides on its active stroke.

5. In a device for discharging molten inaterial, a nozzle having an outlet, of oblong outline, means for conveying the molten ma. terial to said nozzle, and a cutter movable adjacent to the nozzle outlet and lengthwise thereof. 6. In a device for discharging molten ma-' terial, a casing provided with an upright discharge chamber, means for supplying material to said-cl1amber between its top and its bottom, a nozzle at the bottom of said chamber, and a removable cover provided With a downward project-ion fitting into the` upper end of said chamber, normally closing the latter.

7. In a device for discharging molten material,y a nozzle, means for conveying the molten material thereto, means for cutting the material adjacent" to the nozzle outlet, a transfer-funnel provided `with a channel for the passage of a cooling medium and mov able intoregistry with the nozzle outlet to receive the severed material, and a discharge member movable in unison with said funnel and likewise adapted .tor registry with the nozzle outlet, said discharge member being constructed to receive the cooling medium after its passage through the channel ot the funnel.

8. In a device for discharging molten material, a container for the molten material, a'receivcr for the .material discharged from said container', and a downwardly contracted nozzle interposed between the said container and receiver and carried by the containerl and adjustable transversely relatively to said container. v

9. In a device for discharging molten inaterial, a casing provided with an upright discharge chamber, means .for supplying material to said chamber between its top and its bottom, a nozzle at the bottom of said chamber, and a removable cover, located in line with said nozzle, for normally closing the upper end of said chamber.

10. In a device for discharging molten material, a receptacle adapted to contain a supply ot' molten material and provided with an opening through which said material may pass out, a casing provided with a discharge chamber adapted to receive material from said opening, a gate controlling said opening, and a` burner set in said casing on the outside ofthe gates and directed toward the outer face o-said gate to heat the same.

1l. In a device for discharging molten material, a container for molten material, a laterally-adjustable nozzle therefor, and a laterally-adjustable plate having a flange on which said nozzle rests, to carry the nozzle laterally with the plate When the latter is adjusted.

l2. In a device for discharging molten material, a container for molten material, said container having an outlet and an opening or clearance adjacent thereto, and a laterally-adjustable nozzle arranged adjacentl to ysaid outlet and projecting into said opening with sul'licient clearance for the lateral adjustment of the nozzle, so that the walls of the opening will form stops to limit the lateral movement of the nozzle.

13.7 In a device for discharging molten material, acontainer for molt'en material, said container having an outlet, a movable cutter for severing the stream of material issuing from said outlet, a piston operatively connected with said cutter, a cylinder in which said piston reciprocates, said cylinder having ports at both ends, `and intermediate ports controlled by said piston, another cylinder having a connection with a source of pressure supply, pipes connecting said second cylinder with the ports at the ends ot" the first-named cylinder, a piston located in the second-named cylinder and controlling the admission ot fiuid under pressure from said cylinder to one or the other o't' said pipes, additional pipes leading from each of ed with the adjacent end port, and a check llll valve located in each ot the first-named pipes between the respective end port and the connection of said pipe with. the correspondingadditional pipe, said check valve opening toward the first-named cylinder and being provided with a. throttled byfpass. whereby a cushioning effect is obtained at each end of the stroke of the respective piston.

14. In a device for. discharging molten material," a container for moltenl material, said container having an outlet, a movable cutter for severing the stream of material issuing from said outlet, a piston operatively connected with said cutter` a cylinder in' which saidpiston reciprocates. said cylinder having ports at both ends, and intermediate.

ports controlled by said piston, separate pipes connected with said end ports, means for admitting a uid under pressure to one of said pipes or the other, additional pipes leading from each of said intermediate kports i to the pipe connectedwith the adjacent end l port, and a ycheck valve located in each of the first-named pipes between the respective .end port and the connection of such pipe let, a cutter-carrier movable adjacent to said outlet and provided with a forked endfacing the outlet, and 'a cutter having beveled edges fitted into said forked end.

17. In a device for discharging molten material, a contain-er provided with an outlet, a cutter-carrier movable adjacent to said outlet and forked at the end nearest the outlet, and a cutter secured to said forked end, the engaging faces of the cutter and of the cutter-carrier converging both forwardly longitudinally and downwardly transversely of the fork members.

18. In a device for discharging molten material, a container provided with an'outlet, a cutter movable adjacent to said outlet, a lever, a roller carried by said lever and engaging the cutter on the side facing away from the outlet, and means for pressing said lever toward said outlet.

19. In a device for discharging v molten material, a container provided with an outlet, a cutter movable adjacent to said outlet and provided with a concave edge facing the outlet, and a stationary member located adjacent to said outlet and provided with a convex edgefacing said concave cutter edge and" cooperating therewith. j

20. In a device for discharging molten material, a container .provided with an outlet, a cutter movable adjacent to said outlet and provided with a concave edge facing the outlet, and a stationary member locatedcadjacent to the outlet on that side thereof which the cutter reaches last in itsoperative movement, said stationary member having a convex edge directed toward, and cooperating with, the concave edge of 'the cutter, and beveled to flare awayv from the outlet.\

2l. In a device for discharging molten material, a container provided with an outlet having an upright axis, a cutter movable rhorizontally adjacent to said outlet, and a of line with that of the outlet, and located` on the far side of said outlet axis, with reference tov the direction in Iwhich the cutter moves during the severing operation.

23. Ina., device for discharging molten material, a container provided with an outlet, a j acketed transfer funnel movable into and out of operative relation to said outlet, and a discharge member connected to said transfer funnel to move in unison therewith and to register with the outlet at times when the transfer funnel is out of registry therewith, the jacket of the funnel being provided with overflow openings leading into the Vsaid discharge member. i

f 24. In a device for discharging molten material, a container provided with an, outlet, a transfer funnel and a discharge member movable in unison and adapted to qcome alternately into' operative relation to said outlet, and a. stationary channel adapted to register with the discharge member at the time said member is in operative relation to the container outlet.

25. In a device for discharging molten material, a furnace, a nozzle, means 'for conveying material from said furnace to said nozzle,`and means permitting said nozzle to be adjusted laterally toward and from the furnace. v t j 26. In a device for dischargingmolten material, a furnace, a nozzle, means for conveying material from said furnace to Said nozzle, and means permitting said nozzle to be adjusted toward and from the furnace, and also laterally of the direction of the first-named adjustment and vertically, to vary the position of the nozzle outlet and of the stream discharged therefrom.

27. In -a device for discharging molten glass, the combination of a container provided with a discharge outlet,l shearing means for cutting the discharged glass, a funnel for receiving the discharged glass, saidfiinnel being movable into and out of registry with said outlet, means for circulating a cooling fluid around said funnel, and a discharge member movable in unison with said funnel and likewise adapted foring fluid after it has passed in cooling relation to said funnel.

lao'

28. In a device for discharging molten glass, the combination of a container provided with a discharge outlet, shearing means for cutting the 'discharged glass, a funnel for receiving the discharged glass, said funnel being movable into and out of registry with said outlet means surrounding said funnel and demn a chamber for the circulation of cooling uid, and a discharge member movable in unison with said funnelv and likewise adapted for registry with said outlet, the said discharge member and the said chamber being connected by an ing a discharge outlet, a combined trough and funnel, each mounted for movement into registry with said outlet, a cooling jacket for said funnel, and means for conveying the cooling medium 'from the funnel to the trough.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speciication.

' MERTON A, STEELMAN. 

